HealthyHome

Easy on the earth. Easy on the wallet.

Create your own money saving, chemical-free cleaning products with this “Come Clean” cleaning set from Full Circle Home, found at Cooks Nook in Norwalk.

The set comes with spray bottles, a built-in lemon juicer, and a book of “recipes” to create eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaners for every room of your home using simple ingredients such as lemons, baking soda and vinegar.

$24.99. Cooks Nook, 465 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk. (203) 831-8777. www.mycooksnook.com

I love the look of these Sissoo Wood Cutting Boards by Simon Pearce in Westport and Greenwich.

Egyptian artisans handcraft these cutting boards from wood they’ve harvested, and then apply a natural beeswax finish. The pieces are part of the company’s “Aid to Artists” collection, which means they give a portion of the profits to the artisans themselves.

In addition to being a hardy wood, sissoo, (also known as sisu or sheesham,) has a magnificently varied grain that ranges in color from soft gold to dark brown. It’s a gorgeous wood. These boards are not only durable, but would be lovely left out on a counter as an accent, or even used for serving. Can’t you picture using them to serve a fresh loaf of bread with some fragrant dipping oil?

Each board is a full one inch thick. The large size, which is 10.5 inches wide by 21 inches long, is $69. The medium, which is 10 inches by 15 inches, is $62; and the small, (9.5 inches wide by 12 inches long,) is $52.

There are two local Simon Pearce stores – 125 E. Putnam Avenue in Greenwich, (203) 861-0780; and 170 Main Street in Westport, (203) 226-2353. www.simonpearce.com

Mark my words…there will come a time when I deliver some amazing before and after images of my basement. Right now it is a mix of creepy and fifties cool. When we moved in there was a bar down there, a (low) drop ceiling, 6×6 red / black linoleum tiles and sheetrock that is covered with wallpaper that looks like wood. I’m serious. It gives wood paneling a whole new meaning. So the only thing that we have done is remove the bar (and the funny little make-shift sink we discovered behind the bar, along with the very old liquor). I have dreams of creating a creative studio / playroom down there. It will happen some day. Until then I will keep looking for inspiration and live vicariously.

One of my favorite bloggers (and super-talented designer), Nicole Balch of Making it Lovely,  just moved her work studio into theirremodeled basement. It’s so light and refreshing- I could be really productive in a space like this (and as you can see, the space isn’t totally finished yet!)

Lynn over at Decor Arts Now created a relaxing beachy look in her renovated basement. I’m loving that full wall bookcase!

In her deft hands Candice Olson can transform a basement into an amazing living space…and make it the favorite room in the house! I love the pop of kelly green in this basement space.

Here’s another Candice beauty. I’m not crazy about the safari theme but I am inspired by the ceiling and leaving the rafters exposed and just painting them. hmmm…

On a related note, a few years ago my friend’s husband surprised her by finishing the basement while she was away. He enlisted me to help. I had the fun job of creating this wall.

Aw man…these images make me really long for a finished basement.

Not only do these beeswax candles from Practically Green in Ridgefield impart the most heavenly scents as they burn, but they actually help clean the air. Who knew?!

Beeswax, which burns without soot or smoke, releases negative ions into the air, which are purported to remove dust, pollen, mold, smoke, pet dander and even airborne bacteria.

Being that beeswax has a higher melting point than paraffin, it also burns more slowly – which means your candles last longer – and they’re virtually dripless because beeswax evaporates like water instead of “burning off” like paraffin.

They are available in five scents, ranging from the subtle raw honey, to the fragrant freesia. I smelled them all, and each scent is quite pleasing. (I even bought a few to have on hand as last-minute hostess gifts.) $20. Practically Green, 23 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. (203) 431-3000. gopracticallygreen.com

We all spend a significant portion of our lives in bed. So why do so few people consider the materials on which we’re sleeping?

The folks at Healthy Choice Organic Mattresses do. They produce a line of organic, chemical-free mattresses using all natural materials treated with chemical-free fire retardant. That means there are no chemicals to off-gas, or leach into your skin.

Their line includes five models – each made with a unique composition of certified organic fibers including wool, cotton, silk, bamboo, and natural latex, (harvested from rubber trees, not the man-made variety.)

The mattresses range in price according to size and model – from a twin sized “Jasmine” model for $1,149, to a king sized “Violet” for $4,099. Healthy Choice Organic Mattresses, Danbury Fair Mall, 7 Backus Avenue, Danbury. (203) 739-0077. healthychoicemattress.com

While my favorite eco-friendly bag company, GG2G is on hiatus (they are busy creating a social enterprise that aims to bring fashion manufacturing back to America…read about it here) I thought I’d share some other designers who consider the environment when creating woman’s second favorite accessory.

A company I got to know well while I was on the trade show circuit was English Retreads. This is their Mini Luxe bag and has always been one of my favorites. Since 2002 this Colorado based company has been making fun, funky bags out of recycled truck inner tubes.

I’m not a huge fan of leather bags but Ashley Watson is making some super-stylish bags from old leather jackets. The Plover is one of my favorites with these huge pockets in the front…can a gal ever have too many pockets?

If I could swim in a sea of fabric scraps I would be a happy lady. I feel so inspired to make things when I’m around fabric…that’s why this bag speaks to me. It’s made from a recycled cargo pants! What are you saying sweet bag? Yes, I love you too.

So until you can once again purchase one of GG2G’s beautiful recycled bags, you’ve got a few other options.

Not if it contains these common indoor toxins

By Lee Nelson
Our homes are our havens. We make them comfortable with objects we love, need and want.

But some of those “things” can be harmful to our health. We may not be able to see, taste or smell the toxins they release, but they’re there.

Air pollutants in our homes come from many sources and can contain dust, mold, bacteria, gasses, carcinogens and other agents that can cause health problems. And these problems can come quickly in the form of headaches; irritation of the eyes, nose or throat; fatigue; dizziness; diarrhea; or shortness of breath. The long-term effects from exposure to in-home toxins can include cancer, respiratory diseases, heart disease and more.

And it’s some of the most common items we use in our homes — candles, cleaning products, air fresheners, paints and varnishes, mattresses and carpeting — that can be bad for us. Bob Brian, epidemiologist for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, says the issue of toxins in the home is complicated. Residents shouldn’t panic, he says, but they should be aware of how to stay safe and take care of some of the bigger issues first. “Things are a whole lot better than they were 20 years ago. By educating ourselves, we can try and reduce exposure to toxic substances.” (more…)

Talk about versatility!

These glass TrueSeal storage containers from Anchor Hocking offer the convenience of plastic storage containers, without the fear of melting microwaved bowls or the possibility of chemicals migrating into your food. In addition to being microwave safe, they’re fine in the freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher, and even in a conventional oven up to 425°F.

The glass bowls come with airtight plastic lids that are free of Bisphenol A, (commonly referred to as BPA,) to help food stay fresh longer. No more dirtying multiple containers every time you want to pop something in the microwave.

The 10-piece set is $39.99. Cooks Nook, 465 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk. (203) 831-8777. www.mycooksnook.com